Skirt-gage.



E. J. HOWELL.

SKIRT GAGE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. H, 1916.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

UM'IED STATES `Pi-MIENPI @FFICEQ EMMA J". HOWELL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

SKIRT-GAGE.

Application filed October 11, 1916.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, EMMA J. HOWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at 2347 East 85th street, Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Skirt-Gages, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

This invention pertains toa skirt gage and more particularly to a device to be used by dressmakers in order to assist them in basting the bottom edge of a skirt so that it has a uniform length all the way around and will hang evenly from the hips of the wearer.

The object of my invention is to provide a structure which is of simple, neat and durable manufacture, which affords capability of adjustment vertically, which is reversible in its use so as to be adapted for both right and left hand users and which includes a curved member adapted to conform to a portion of the curve assumed by the bottom of a skirt when properly hung.v

I am well aware that many devices for the same general purpose are now being marketed and do not pretend to claim as new a pedestal having an upright portion graduated according to a lineal scale, nor a bracket adjustably secured thereto and adapted to be fixed in various positions relative to the base of the pedestal. I believe, however, that I am the first to conceive of a laterally extending arm which is curved and moreover capable of being supported in a reverse position.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Adverting to the drawing:

Figure I is a perspective view of a skirt gage embodying my invention.

Fig. II is a rear elevation of the gage.

Fig. III is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. IV is a top plan view.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

Serial No. 124,944.

rIhe structure will be seen to comprise a pedestal including a base l and an upright support 2 upon which a lineal scale appears graduated in inches and parts thereof. Embracing the support 2 is a bracket 3 having an opening 4 somewhat larger than the dimension of the support 2 and passed through such bracket in a direction toward the opening 4 is a set screw 5. The top and bottom walls 6 and 7 of so much of lthe opening 4, as will be disposed in practice in front of the support 2, are flattened somewhat and lie in horizontal planes for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Adapted for insertion in the opening 4 from a lateral direction is a curved arm S having its inner end 9 of such a size as to fit loosely in the opening 4 and be clamped against the support 2 by the set screw 5 and thus simultaneously to secure all the parts at a predetermined height from the floor. The end 9 likewise has oppositely disposed flat sides l0 and ll respectively, each disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of the arm S in its entirety such that when the insertion is eected these iiat sides will abut the walls 6 and 7 and thereby insure a horizontal projection on the part of the arm 8 for its entire length. In such position the arm 8 will be disposed in a substantially horizontal plane extending laterally in one direction and having its free extremity 12 continued in a slightly rearward direction.

In operation the use to be made of my invention is as follows:

The skirt, the length of which is to be adjusted, is hung upon the intended wearer or upon some suitable dress form and thereafter portions of the material at the bottom are successively looped upon the arm S to form a hem and basted with pins or otherwise, so that the portion of the material so looped along the length of the arm 8 is in substantially uniform tension. Thereafter, the basted hem portion is moved off the arm 8 in a direction toward the extremity l2 to bring another adjoining portion of the bottom of the skirt along the full extent of the arm 8 preparatory to hemming and basting it in like manner and in necessary conformity with all other portions which may have been or are to be hemmed and basted over the same form by the same method. By having the arm 8 curved the person manipulating the device is more likely to perceive the correct hang of the skirt bottom therealong and of course only by having such arm curved substantially according to the radius of curvature of the prevailing breadth of skirt is it possible to achieve an equal length along the entire hem which is being basted at any one time. If the arm 8 were other than properly curved it could not be as long to permit of making hem portions of con'- siderable length without having such portions of the hem which were farthest removed rom the center of theV imaginary skirt circle too long. In the form shown in the drawing the arm 8 is extended laterally to the right in which position it is best adapted for a right handed screw. Manifestly7 a loosening of the thumb screw 5 per* mits the withdrawal of the end 9 which may be inserted from the left side if desired.

I claim:

l. A skirt gage comprising an upright pedestal .adapted for positioning below the bottom hem of a properly hung skirt and provided with lineal graduations measured vfrom the i'loor, a U shaped bracket having oppositely disposed slots occupied by said member whereby said bracket is adjustable along such member, an arm having one end adapted to be loosely and detachably fitted between said bracket and pedestal so as to be capable of extending horizontally in Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,V g

either direction, said arm being uniformly curved in a direction corresponding to a given extent of said bottom hein, and a set screw passed through said bracket to engage and firmly clamp said arm therein, the arrangement being such that the direction of projection of the arm may be reversed without moving the bracket overthe top of said pedestal.

2. A skirt gage comprising an up-right member graduated in inches, a bracket adjustable therealong and provided with an opening having iat horizontally disposed topl and bottom walls, and a curved arm having one` of its ends formed with oppositely disposed' i flat sides adapted for insertion from either direction into said opening, said arm having its other end curved in a direction away from the exterior face of said upright mem-v ber, said flat sides of such arm engagingsaid 4 walls whereby said arm may assume either a right or left hand horizontal position irre spective of the relative location or movement of said bracket, and means forl fixing the latter, together with said arm, at some predetermined point along said upright member.

Signed by me this 7th day ot' October, 1916.

EMMA J. HOWELL.

Washington, D. C. 

